SLS 18RS-485 RE-REENGROSSED
2018 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 452
BY SENATORS MORRISH, APPEL, BOUDREAUX, MIZELL AND WALSWORTH
TOPS. Changes certain TOPS initial eligibility requirements and provides relative to the
sharing of certain student data. (gov sig)
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 17:183.3(B)(2)(c), 5025(3)(c), the introductory paragraph of
3 5026(A) and (A)(3)(b), 5061, the introductory paragraph of 5062(C) and (C)(1), R.S.
4 39:98.3(D), and R.S. 47:1508(B)(17) and to enact R.S. 17:5062(C)(5), relative to the
5 Taylor Opportunity Program for Students; to provide relative to eligibility
6 requirements; to provide relative to Board of Regents' reporting requirements; to
7 provide relative to sharing of certain taxpayer data with the administering agency;
8 to provide for technical changes; and to provide for related matters.
9 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
10 Section 1. R.S. 17:183.3(B)(2)(c), 5025(3)(c), the introductory paragraph of 5026(A)
11 and (A)(3)(b), 5061, the introductory paragraph of 5062(C) and (C)(1) are hereby amended
12 and reenacted and R.S. 17:5062(C)(5) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
13 §183.3. Career major; description; curriculum and graduation requirements
14 * * *
15 B.(1) * * *
16 (2) The course requirements for the career major shall consist of the
17 following:
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1 * * *
2 (c) At least two science credits, including one credit of Biology and one
3 additional course from among the following: Chemistry I, Earth Science,
4 Environmental Science, Physical Science, Agriscience I and Agriscience II (one
5 credit combined), Physics, or AP or IB Science courses.
6 * * *
7 §5025. High school core curriculum requirements; Opportunity, Performance,
8 Honors Awards
9 To be eligible for an Opportunity, Performance, or Honors Award pursuant
10 to this Chapter, a student who graduates during or after the 2017-2018 school year
11 shall have successfully completed a core curriculum which consists of nineteen units
12 of high school course work as follows:
13 * * *
14 (3) Science - Four Units
15 * * *
16 (c) Two units chosen from the following: Earth Science; Environmental
17 Science; Physical Science; Agriscience I and Agriscience II (one unit combined);
18 Chemistry II, AP Chemistry, or IB Chemistry II; AP Environmental Science, or IB
19 Environmental Systems; Physics I, AP Physics I, AP Physics B, or IB Physics I; AP
20 Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism, AP Physics C: Mechanics, or IB Physics II;
21 AP Physics I and, or AP Physics II; Biology II, AP Biology, or IB Biology II.
22 * * *
23 §5026. High school core curriculum requirements; TOPS-Tech
24 A. Except as otherwise provided by this Section, to To be eligible for a
25 TOPS-Tech Award pursuant to this Chapter, the student shall have successfully
26 completed the core curriculum requirements of R.S. 17:5025 or 5025.3 or the core
27 curriculum defined as follows:
28 * * *
29 (3) Science - Two Units
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1 * * *
2 (b) One unit from the following: Chemistry I, Earth Science, Environmental
3 Science, Agriscience I and Agriscience II (both for one unit), Physical Science,
4 Physics, or AP or IB science courses.
5 * * *
6 §5061. Administering agency
7 The provisions of this Chapter shall be administered by the Board of Regents.
8 The administering agency may shall provide by rule adopted as provided by the
9 Administrative Procedure Act for all matters necessary to the implementation of this
10 Chapter.
11 §5062. Rules, procedures, and guidelines
12 * * *
13 C. The administering agency shall provide the following guidelines:
14 (1) Guidelines and procedures by which the administering agency, subject to
15 prior approval by in consultation with the State Board of Elementary and Secondary
16 Education, may update the course name and establish course equivalencies for any
17 course included in the definition of core curriculum provided by this Chapter,
18 including necessary changes to course names and equivalencies for Advanced
19 Placement and International Baccalaureate courses as prescribed by the College
20 Board or the International Baccalaureate Foundation. The guidelines and procedures
21 shall include but not be limited to a requirement that any change in a course name
22 and the establishment of any course equivalency be done by rule adopted by the
23 administering agency and a requirement that prior to issuing a notice of intent to
24 consider any such rule the administering agency shall consult with and seek the
25 written comments and recommendations of the Board of Regents on making the
26 name change or establishing the course equivalency.
27 * * *
28 (5)(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, guidelines and
29 procedures by which the administering agency may receive and consider an
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1 applicant's qualifying score on the ACT or SAT which is first obtained on an
2 authorized testing date after the national April testing date in the year of the
3 applicant's high school graduation provided that:
4 (i) The administering agency determines that the applicant was
5 prevented from taking the test on or prior to the national April testing date of
6 the year of the applicant's graduation due to circumstances beyond the
7 immediate control of the student which were attributable to the administration
8 of the test.
9 (ii) The applicant's qualifying score is obtained on an authorized testing
10 date prior to August first of the year of the applicant's graduation.
11 (b) When granting an award to an applicant whose qualifying test score
12 is considered by the agency pursuant to the provisions of this Paragraph, the
13 agency shall not reduce the time period of eligibility for the award as set forth
14 in R.S. 17:5002.
15 Section 2. R.S. 39:98.3(D) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
16 §98.3. Appropriations from the Health Excellence Fund, the Education Excellence
17 Fund, and the TOPS Fund
18 * * *
19 D. Appropriations from the TOPS Fund shall be restricted to support of the
20 state's program for financial assistance for students attending Louisiana institutions
21 of postsecondary education as established in Chapter 20-G50 of Title 17 of the
22 Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950.
23 * * *
24 Section 3. R.S. 47:1508(B)(17) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
25 §1508. Confidentiality of tax records
26 * * *
27 B. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to prevent:
28 * * *
29 (17) The furnishing of a taxpayer's reported federal adjusted gross income as
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1 requested by the office of student financial assistance when based on certification by
2 the office that the confidentiality of such information will be respected and that it
3 holds an agreement signed by the taxpayer authorizing the release of this information
4 for the purpose of considering the eligibility of the taxpayer's beneficiary for a tuition
5 assistance grant under the Louisiana Student Tuition Assistance and Revenue Trust
6 Program as provided for by Chapter 22-A of Title 17 of the Louisiana Revised
7 Statutes of 1950 or, for the purpose of considering the eligibility of the taxpayer's
8 dependent child for an award under the Louisiana Taylor Opportunity Program for
9 Students as provided for by Chapter 20-G 50 of Title 17 of the Louisiana Revised
10 Statutes of 1950, or for the purpose of determining employment and residency
11 status of past recipients of the Louisiana Taylor Opportunity Program for
12 Students awards.
13 * * *
14 Section 4. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
15 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
16 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
17 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
18 effective on the day following such approval.
The original instrument was prepared by Cheryl M. Serrett. The following
digest, which does not constitute a part of the legislative instrument, was
prepared by Cathy Wells.
DIGEST
SB 452 Re-Reengrossed 2018 Regular Session Morrish
Present law provides for high school career major curriculum and graduation requirements.
Proposed law retains present law. Additionally provides that Physics may be counted for
credit as a science course to satisfy the high school career major graduation requirements.
Present law provides for the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS), including
providing for award amounts, initial eligibility requirements, and continuation requirements.
Present law provides for the administration of TOPS.
Present law provides two separate core curriculum requirements, based on the type of award
the student is seeking. Proposed law retains present law but allows AP Physics I and AP
Physics II to count as individual classes in the TOPS Opportunity, Performance, and Honors
students core curriculum. Additionally provides Physics may count in the TOPS-Tech core
curriculum.
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Proposed law clarifies that the administering agency shall adopt rules as provided by the
Administrative Procedure Act.
Present law provides that course equivalences shall be set by the administering agency upon
prior approval by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Proposed law amends present law to provide that BESE is consulted with on the changes but
is not required to approve the changes.
Present law provides that ACT and SAT tests taken after July first of the student's high
school graduation year may not be considered when determining eligibility. Proposed law
allows tests taken after the national April testing date in the year of the applicant's high
school graduation provided that:
(1) The administering agency determines that the applicant was prevented from taking
the test on or prior to the April testing date of the year of the applicant's graduation
due to circumstances beyond the immediate control of the student which were
attributable to the administration of the test.
(2) The applicant's qualifying score is obtained on an authorized testing date prior to
August first of the year of the applicant's graduation.
Present law provides that when granting an award to an applicant whose qualifying test score
is considered by the agency pursuant to present law, the agency shall reduce the time period
of eligibility for the award by one semester or an equivalent number of units at an eligible
institution which operates on a schedule based on units other than semesters. Proposed law
provides that when granting an award to an applicant pursuant to proposed law, the agency
shall not reduce the time period of eligibility.
Present law provides that tax records are confidential. Present law additionally provides that
certain taxpayers' information may be shared with the office of student financial assistance
to help determine the students' eligibility for TOPS.
Proposed law retains present law. Further provides the tax information may also be used by
the office to determine past TOPS recipient employment and residency status in Louisiana.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 17:183.3(B)(2)(c), 5025(3)(c), 5026(A)(intro para) and (A)(3)(b), 5061,
5062(C)(intro para) and (C)(1), R.S. 39:98.3(D), and R.S. 47:1508(B)(17), adds R.S.
17:5062(C)(5))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Finance to the
engrossed bill
1. Authorizes that ACT and SAT tests taken after the national April testing date
may be considered when determining eligibility provided that the applicant
was prevented from taking the test on or prior to April due to circumstances
beyond the immediate control of the student and that the applicant's
qualifying score is obtained prior to August first.
2. Provides that when granting an award to an applicant pursuant to proposed
law the agency shall not reduce the time period of eligibility.
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Senate Floor Amendments to reengrossed bill
1. Makes technical corrections.
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